Stokes' England comeback clashes with court date

All-rounder Ben Stokes might have to wait longer for his England comeback as he has to appear before Bristol Magistrates' Court on February 13 to answer a charge of affray.

After being charged by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in connection with a brawl outside a Bristol nightclub last year, Stokes has to be present in the court on February 13, which is also the date of first of England's T20 fixtures in New Zealand, where the former England vice-captain was potentially in line to return, reports ESPNcricinfo

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) yesterday lifted the suspension on Stokes and made him available for the T20 fixtures in New Zealand.

Stokes has already been named as part of England's squad for the T20 tri-series, which also involves Australia.

He had to earlier miss the Ashes series against Australia after being suspended indefinitely by the ECB pending the outcome of a police investigation into the Bristol incident.